Exterior
You will have to excuse the wild looks of the concept, as it looks too boorish for a car that wears the three pointed star, but even in more understated shades we can see the GLA 45 AMG is likely to be a looker. Following on from where the A and CLA 45 models left off. Muscular would probably be the best word to describe it and it is clearly evident that the AMG is going to be more 'in-your-face' than its RS-badged rival. AMG-specific bumpers are offset by a high-gloss black splitter at the front with the bumper also housing large air intakes to feed air to the engine behind.
The 21-inch matt black AMG wheels wear a red rim, a colour carried over through the grille and also as a detail line along the flanks where a '45'-numbered wrap hints at AMG's motorsport heritage.
Out back a diffuser houses a set of double-barrel rectangular AMG sports exhaust pipes complete with active flaps for a more throaty sound.
Mechanicals
Not that the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine has needed much help in that regard previously. Unlike its Audi rival, which uses a 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that produces 306hp, the Mercedes has to make to with a four-pot, but thanks to AMG black magic it is the most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world, with 360hp and 450Nm of torque on tap.
No surprise then that the GLA 45 AMG utilises Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel drive system to harness the power and an AMG high-performance braking system with red brake callipers to rein it in when required.
Pin your foot to the floor and the GLA 45 AMG will hit 100km/h in under five seconds, yet Mercedes-Benz says that, thanks to the AMG SpeedShift DCT seven-speed sports transmission it offers low fuel consumption and emissions. No figures are quoted for either of these so we will have to take Mercedes-Benz's word for it for the moment.
Anything else?
"With the Concept GLA 45 AMG, we are setting a stake firmly in the ground of the strongly growing market segment of compact SUVs," said Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. "Our customers - a young target group who set great store by styling, dynamism and independence - can now start looking forward to a dynamic high-performance car."
"The most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world and the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system add up to make the Concept GLA 45 AMG a unique proposition."
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